SE: K-State Baseball Brings Costumes & Comedy to ALS Halloween Game
Nov 02, 2020 | Baseball, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
Pete Hughes knew exactly what Halloween costume he wanted to wear this year.
For a guy who could teach a class on vintage baseball uniforms, Hughes had his eye on the sequined, glitter-covered LA Dodgers jersey that Elton John wore at a 1975 concert at Dodgers Stadium and in the film Rocketman.
"I got to the party too late," Hughes said. "We looked everywhere from Manhattan to Topeka to Lawrence to Kansas City and we couldn't get it here on time. So, I went with what I'm called around the house - The Joker."
Wearing a lime green sport coat, red fedora and red sneakers, along with white face paint and a matching mask, the K-State head coach was committed to his costume at K-State Baseball's third-annual ALS Halloween Game.
Just not quite as committed as he is to the cause behind the event.
Part of the 19 Ways program that Hughes introduced to K-State Baseball, the game raises funds and brings awareness to the fight against ALS. For Hughes, the battle is a personal one.
His former player at Boston College, Pete Frates, became a national figure when he popularized the "Ice Bucket Challenge" to bring awareness to his own fight with ALS.
The campaign became a social media phenomenon and raised over $100 million in support of ALS research, before Frates passed away in December.
"Pete was always the most fun guy to be around in the dugout and he took on this disease with a smile on his face. What better way to recognize him than on Halloween?" Hughes said. "Usually, when we're in the dugout and between the lines, we're fighting for each other, but to put the costumes on with a smile on our face, it gives you some perspective."
This is not, it should be clear, a Halloween game for beginners.
Connor McCullough dressed as a golfer with Cameron Uselton dressed as his caddy, handing him bats out of a golf bag during each at bat and standing next to McCullough in the outfield.
Dom Hughes, dressed as Vince Neil from Motley Crue, ripped a line drive into the outfield and then rounded the bases before sliding headfirst into home plate.
Also part of Motley Crue with Tommy Lee's tattoos and suspenders, Caleb Littlejim started working on his costume almost three weeks ago.
"There's a lot of bits and pieces to put together, right up until tonight with getting the tattoos on," he said. "When we show up and see everybody's costume and what the guys put together, you know there's some work that goes into it so it's exciting to see what everybody did."
Fans were also encouraged to dress up and K-State Director of Athletics Gene Taylor was in attendance, dressed as Santa Claus, handing out candy throughout Tointon Family Stadium.
Luke Hauswirth went as Indiana Jones, a classic look with the hat, whip and fake revolver.
"I love showing everybody that we're not just baseball players. We're silly, we're goofy and we like to have a lot of fun," he said. "Getting people out here, spreading them out, but having some fun to distract from everything else that's going on, I think that's the best part."
There was an attempt at keeping score, impressive considering there were two dogs on the field throughout the game and a light saber fight in center field during the middle innings.
The game ended with a performance from the players dressed as Motley Crue, including an air guitar solo as the stadium lights flashed.
"It's about caring about something other than yourself, something other than baseball," Littlejim said. "[Coach Hughes] does a great job making sure we're aware of that and that we're out here to support the cause."
While his Elton John costume didn't make it on time, Hughes couldn't have ordered better weather for the third edition of what's quickly become a K-State Baseball tradition.
A week that began with snow on the ground, ended with clear skies and weather in the 70's for the socially distanced crowd at Tointon Family Stadium.
The ALS Halloween Game followed the team's annual Shave for the Brave event in October, when K-State celebrated a third straight year leading the country in College Baseball vs. Cancer fundraising.
It's a strange way to describe an event where the outfield was mostly Star Wars characters and a rhinoceros was on the mound, but the game brought some much-needed "normal" back to Halloween in Manhattan.
"This is what we do on Halloween. We had a great show for our crowd, the families and the kids," Hughes said. "Better days ahead around here. This thing will hopefully pass soon, and we'll be here for our fans and our community when that happens."
Pete Hughes knew exactly what Halloween costume he wanted to wear this year.
For a guy who could teach a class on vintage baseball uniforms, Hughes had his eye on the sequined, glitter-covered LA Dodgers jersey that Elton John wore at a 1975 concert at Dodgers Stadium and in the film Rocketman.
"I got to the party too late," Hughes said. "We looked everywhere from Manhattan to Topeka to Lawrence to Kansas City and we couldn't get it here on time. So, I went with what I'm called around the house - The Joker."
Wearing a lime green sport coat, red fedora and red sneakers, along with white face paint and a matching mask, the K-State head coach was committed to his costume at K-State Baseball's third-annual ALS Halloween Game.
Just not quite as committed as he is to the cause behind the event.
Part of the 19 Ways program that Hughes introduced to K-State Baseball, the game raises funds and brings awareness to the fight against ALS. For Hughes, the battle is a personal one.
His former player at Boston College, Pete Frates, became a national figure when he popularized the "Ice Bucket Challenge" to bring awareness to his own fight with ALS.
The campaign became a social media phenomenon and raised over $100 million in support of ALS research, before Frates passed away in December.
"Pete was always the most fun guy to be around in the dugout and he took on this disease with a smile on his face. What better way to recognize him than on Halloween?" Hughes said. "Usually, when we're in the dugout and between the lines, we're fighting for each other, but to put the costumes on with a smile on our face, it gives you some perspective."
This is not, it should be clear, a Halloween game for beginners.
"It's about something bigger than baseball... and we'll be here for our fans and community."
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) October 31, 2020
🎙 Pete Hughes (The Joker)#KStateBSB x ALS Halloween Game pic.twitter.com/umtazBKVUm
Connor McCullough dressed as a golfer with Cameron Uselton dressed as his caddy, handing him bats out of a golf bag during each at bat and standing next to McCullough in the outfield.
Dom Hughes, dressed as Vince Neil from Motley Crue, ripped a line drive into the outfield and then rounded the bases before sliding headfirst into home plate.
Also part of Motley Crue with Tommy Lee's tattoos and suspenders, Caleb Littlejim started working on his costume almost three weeks ago.
"There's a lot of bits and pieces to put together, right up until tonight with getting the tattoos on," he said. "When we show up and see everybody's costume and what the guys put together, you know there's some work that goes into it so it's exciting to see what everybody did."
A lot going on tonight #KStateBSB x ALS Halloween Game pic.twitter.com/lp1STeHzxO
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) October 30, 2020
Fans were also encouraged to dress up and K-State Director of Athletics Gene Taylor was in attendance, dressed as Santa Claus, handing out candy throughout Tointon Family Stadium.
Luke Hauswirth went as Indiana Jones, a classic look with the hat, whip and fake revolver.
"I love showing everybody that we're not just baseball players. We're silly, we're goofy and we like to have a lot of fun," he said. "Getting people out here, spreading them out, but having some fun to distract from everything else that's going on, I think that's the best part."
There was an attempt at keeping score, impressive considering there were two dogs on the field throughout the game and a light saber fight in center field during the middle innings.
The game ended with a performance from the players dressed as Motley Crue, including an air guitar solo as the stadium lights flashed.
🤘 Mötley Crüe 🤘
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) October 31, 2020
(introduced by the Joker - aka Coach Hughes)#KStateBSB x ALS Awareness Game pic.twitter.com/sj8E7Zxpbj
"It's about caring about something other than yourself, something other than baseball," Littlejim said. "[Coach Hughes] does a great job making sure we're aware of that and that we're out here to support the cause."
While his Elton John costume didn't make it on time, Hughes couldn't have ordered better weather for the third edition of what's quickly become a K-State Baseball tradition.
A week that began with snow on the ground, ended with clear skies and weather in the 70's for the socially distanced crowd at Tointon Family Stadium.
The ALS Halloween Game followed the team's annual Shave for the Brave event in October, when K-State celebrated a third straight year leading the country in College Baseball vs. Cancer fundraising.
It's a strange way to describe an event where the outfield was mostly Star Wars characters and a rhinoceros was on the mound, but the game brought some much-needed "normal" back to Halloween in Manhattan.
"This is what we do on Halloween. We had a great show for our crowd, the families and the kids," Hughes said. "Better days ahead around here. This thing will hopefully pass soon, and we'll be here for our fans and our community when that happens."
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